What You Need to Know
A recent attack on a church in southwest Niger resulted in the deaths of a man and his wife, according to local sources. The incident occurred in the village of Milo, where armed assailants opened fire inside the church, creating chaos before pursuing the couple to their home.
Africa. A man and his wife were killed in an attack carried out by armed assailants on a church in the Dosso region of southwest Niger, according to local sources.
The attack occurred in the village of Milo, part of the Dogondoutchi area, around 11 PM. A local source reported that “the assailants fired gunshots into the air inside the church, causing chaos, before pursuing the man and his wife to their home and killing them.”
The attackers also seized livestock, and some worshippers fled to nearby villages or sought refuge in the bushes.
Milo village is located in the Dogondoutchi area of the Dosso region, which borders Nigeria and Benin. Muslims and Christians typically coexist without issues in Niger.
Between 2018 and 2021, Niger experienced attacks targeting churches in the western part of the country, particularly in the neighboring Tillaberi region, where a priest was injured in an armed attack in 2019.
Despite a widespread military presence, armed groups continue to target various communities. In March, 44 civilians were killed inside a mosque in Fambita, and in June, 71 civilians were killed during a religious sermon in the village of Manda. The southeast of the country is also known for the activity of Boko Haram and the Islamic State in West Africa.
Niger has witnessed bloody attacks by armed groups linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda for nearly a decade, resulting in approximately 2,000 deaths since the beginning of the year, according to the conflict monitoring organization “Acled.” Muslims make up the majority of the country’s population of over 28 million, while Christians account for only about 2%.
Niger has faced increasing violence from armed groups linked to ISIS and Al-Qaeda over the past decade. The country has experienced numerous attacks on religious sites, particularly in the western regions bordering Burkina Faso and Mali. Between 2018 and 2021, several church attacks were reported, raising concerns about the safety of religious communities in the area. Despite a significant military presence, these groups continue to pose a threat to both Muslim and Christian populations, contributing to a climate of fear and instability.
